Complaint Opinion 04-03
Date
01/20/2005
Number
04-03
Topic
Use of public resources - campaign - legislative address
Respondent
Rep. Al O'Brien
Question/Complaint
Complaint alleges the respondent used his state legislative e mail address in responding to a newspaper's candidate profile questionnaire, in violation of RCW 42.52.180.
Summary
Board concluded there was reasonable cause to believe that the use of the legislative e mail address was in support of respondent's campaign; however, the action complained of was inadvertent and minor and further proceedings were not warranted. Board noted that the campaign-related materials were not produced by legislator but were on newspaper's web site that did not state the e mail address was a campaign contact; questionnaire requested both a private and public e mail address; and the fact the respondent did not submit his legislative telephone number in response to a request for a "public" number support the conclusion this was an inadvertent mistake.